Ink-vending device



Jan. 25, 1927.

. 1,615,354 0. AMOS ET AL INK VENDING DEV-ICE Filed Nov. 10 1925 2 sheets sheet 1 A il'orneyc.

- Jan. 25, 1927.

O. AMOS ET AL INK VENDING DEVICE Filed Nov- 10 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 k l a I z 3 H. M 4 a a s a 4 fi hl lmmm m 7. 4d m a Y M L i" 1 1 awn n A r m w fe an 5 Mme .0 5 v n my v m m. m A .I-II. t u o w w a Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT eerie-E. I

INK-VENDING DEVICE.

Application filed November 10, 1925. Serial No. 68,085.

This invention is a device for the vendingof ink for fountain pen filling and comprises means for receiving a coin to permit a lever to be operated such that an ink well filled with a'predetermined amount of ink is uncovered.

Residing within the invention are several features, all cooperating to insure its successful operation, such as the means for preventing the ink well from receiving ink more than once upon the deposit of a single coin regardless of the continued manipulat-ion of the operating lever; the means permitting the movement of the operating lever but such that the mechanism is not operated when a coin is not deposited; the means for filling the ink well to a fixed level each time the mechanism is operated regardless of the quantity of ink remaining in the well from previous operations; and the locking means for normally retaining the cover over the ink well.

These and such other objects to be found in the invention will best be understood by the following detailed description of one embodiment of the invention, together with reference to the drawing, in which-- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the ink vendor shown in an operated condition;

Fig. 2, a right side, fragmentary elevation;

Fig. 3, a left side, fragmentary elevation with the ink vessel removed;

Fig. 4, a rear elevation;

Fig. 5, a bottom plan view of the mechanism as carried by the top plate; and

Fig. 6, a section taken on the line 66 in Fig. 2.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

The operating mechanism is supported and contained within the box-like housing formed by the bottom 10, the right side 11, the rear end 12, the left side 13, the front side 14, and. the top side 15, all suitably joined together, with provision made for access beinghad to the interior for the removal of the money and the replenishing of the ink supply.

The top side 15 is provided with the central slot 16 into which slot is inserted the crosshcad 17 such that its top face is approximately flush with the outer side of the top 15 and the body of the crosshead 17 is de iended. A closure plate 18 is rigidly affixed to the top side of the crosshead 17 such that as the crosshead reciprocates in the slot 16, the closure plate 18 reciprocates likewise. This plate 18 projects sufficiently beyond the crosshead 17, on both ends, that the slot 16 is always covered regardless of the position of the crosshead 17in the slot 16, and the forward end of the plate 18 is so fixed in length that when the crosshead 17 is in its normal inoperativeposition, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5, the plate 18 covers the ink well 19.

To retain the crosshead 17 within the slot 16, guide plates 20 and 21 are attached to the under side of the top 15 to overlap the slot 16 such that edges of the plates 20 and 21 project slidingly into the grooves'22 and 23 provided therefor in the side faces of the crosshead 17. A spring 83, held by one end on the top 15, and pressing by the other end against the back end of the crosshead 17, normally holds the crosshead in the forward end of the slot 16.

A U-shaped crank 24 straddles the crosshead 17 from below and is pivotally carried in a bearing 25 on each guide plate 20 and 21. The left end of the crank 24 extends through the left bearing 25 and upwardly and outwardly through a slot 26 in the top side 15 to formthe external operating lever 27. The crank 24 pivotally carries a trigger 28 on its transverse member. This trigger 28 is formed such that it extends principally backwardly from the crank 24 along the under side of the crosshead 17 and is prevented from swinging downwardly about the crank 24 by reason of a tail-piece 29 on the trigger 28 extending forwardly from the crank 24. This tail-piece 29 is of such length that it will project beyond the crosshead 17 when in its normal inoperative position as in Fig. 2, and further this projecting portion is bent to turn upwardly slightly.

When thelever 27 is in the position as shown by the full lines, in Fig. 2, such position being the normal inoperative position, the crank 24 presses the trigger 28 against the crosshead 17 throughout the length of the rear portion of the trigger 28, and springs 30, here shown as two in number, though one spring may be sufficient, are employed to hold the crank 24 in this position, by engaging one end of each spring to the crank 24 and the other end to an ear 31 projecting from the top 15. ,As the lever 27 is pressed down forwardly to overcome the resistance of the springs to rock the crank 24 to the position as indicated by' the dash lines, the rear end of the trigger 28 will tend to swing about the crank 24, to drop downwardly due to its own weight, but being restrained by the tail-piece 29 will assume positions from between the full-lined position to the dash-lined. position. (See Fig. 2.) As a further insurance that the rear end of the trigger 28 will drop downwardly away from the crosshead 17, when the lever 27 is jerked rapidly, a spring 32 is fixed to the rear section of the trigger 28, as indicated in Fig. 3, to press against the under side of the crosshead 17. Thus it is seen that the only movement resulting from operating the lever 27 is to carry the trigger 28 forwardly and back-wardly without the trigger 28 engaging or moving other parts.

A coin receiving slot 34 is cutthrough the top 15 back of the lever 27, Fig. Land a coin conveyor 35 is attached to the under side of the top 15 such that its inner passage-way registers with the slot 3st. A UTshaped guide 36, of such width that a coin 37 may roll. freely on edge within, and open along the top side to permit a substantial portion of the coin to project therefrom, extends downwardly from the conveyor and transversely below the rear portion of the trigger 28, as in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, to terminate with an open end on a line slightly back of the line with the right side face of the crosshead 17. The crosshead 17 carries a coin stop 38, Figs. 2, and 4. of appreciable width, which stop 38 normally stands across the opening in the end of the coin guide 36, such that when the coin 37 is dropped in the slot 34, the coin 37 is directed by the conveyor 35 to the guide 36 whereby the coin 37 rolls on. edge downwardly to be stopped and retained in the guide 36 by contacting the stop 38, as indicated in Fig, 4;.

Now should the lever 27 be rocked forwardly, thetrigger 28 will be carried backwardly, but by reason of the coin. 37 being below it, the trigger 28 can not swing downwardly by its rear end, but the rear end is guided against and along the crosshead 17 by the trigger 28 sliding over the coin, such that the rear end of the trigger 28 is brought in contact against the ear 39 which projects downwardly from the rear end of the crosshead 17, and. further travel of the lever 27 will cause the trigger 28 to so carry the crosshead l7 backwardly to overcome the resistance of the spring 33 such that the closure plate 18 is carried backwardly to uncover the ink well 19 as in Figs. 1, and 3. Since the stop 38 travels with the crosshead 17 and the coin guide 36 is stationary, the travel of the crosshead 17 as above described. will carry the stop 38 beyond the guide 36 opening and the coin 37 will thereupon immediately tend to roll out and drop to the bottom 10.

To insure the release of pressure of the trigger 28 upon the coin 37 when the stop 38 is removed from in front of the coin 37, to permit the coin to drop, which pressure might be sufiicient to retain the coin in the guide even though the stop is removed, the under side of the trigger 28 is tapered to reduce its thickness from the original norn'nil position point of contact on the coin 37 to near the crank 24, suchthat when the trigger 28 once engages against the crosshead ear 39 by reason of the trigger being directed there b the coin, the resistance of the spring 33 against backward movement of the trigger 28 tends to hold the trigger in contact with the ear 39 without further guidance of the coin 37, and the clearance between the trigger and the coin effected as above described may be provided without adversely afiecting the action of the trigger.

Release of? the lever 27 will permit the springs 30 and 33 to return the crosshead 17 and trigger 28 to their normal positions.

As the mechanism has so far been described, the closure plate 18 will not uncover the ink well 19 through any rocking of the lever 27 unless a coin is inserted in the slot 34, but the closure plate 18 may be pushed backwardly, from without, independently of the lever 27, and to prevent such unwarranted action, a lock is provided as will now be described.

A slot is out in each vertical face near the rear end of the crosshead. 17 to serve as a retaining guide for each leg of the yoke 10 straddling the crosshead 17 "lllOlli its under side. The yoke 10 has its transverse member adapted to contact normally the under face of the crosshead 17 inm'iediatelv back of the ear 39, and" the yoke 40 is slidingly retained on the crosshead 17 by a spring at] secured by one end to the crosshead and having its free end engaging one of the legs of the yoke 40, this spring t normally tending to hold the yoke 40 firmly up against the crosshead ,17 so as to resist any downward travel. The two legs of the yoke -91-0 project laterally from the slots and extend upwardly along the slots in the cross head such that in the normal position their ends just clear the plates 20 and 21, as in Fig. 2.

A lock plate 42 is fixed to each of the plates 20 and 21. to permit the passage of the crosshead 17 thereb-etween but having their forward edges located to be contacted by the legs of the yoke 40 upon the cross head 17 tending to move forwardly. Thus, a lock is provided and unless the yoke 40 is pulled downwardly to overcome the spring 41 and clear the ends of the yoke legs over the plates 42, the crosshead 17 and conseltlO quently the closure plate 18 cannot be moved backwardly to uncover the ink well 19 either by moving the lever 27 or independently of the lever.

To release this lock when the coin 37 is inserted to effect legitimate operation of the mechanism, the rear end of the trigger is formed with an under face inclined acutely from the face of the crosshead 17 to effect a chisel-like sharpened edge such that as this edge of the trigger 28 comes backwardly along on the face of the crosshead 17 as directed by the coin 37, this edge will slip under the cross member of the yoke 40, thereby raising the yoke 40 with its legs until the edge of the trigger 28 is stopped by the ear 39 as before described, whereupon the crosshead 17 is then free to be carried backwardly as the legs of the yoke 40 will now pass over the lock plates 42. The insertion of the trigger 28 under the yoke 40 is facilitated by bevelling or rounding the forward face of the cross member of the yoke 40, as shown in Fig. 3, where a section of the yoke 40 is removed to disclose this formation.

Not only does the yoke 40 serve as a locking means as above described, but it also serves as a means for positively retaining the trigger 28 against the ear 39 after the coin 37 has dropped from the guide. Re lease of the lever 27 will permit the springs 30 to withdraw the trigger 28 from under the yoke 40 to permit the yoke to spring back into its normal locking position. It should be noted that the plates 42 are of such length that for any reason should the yoke '40 be prematurely released by the trigger 28, the crosshead 17 is free to travel forwardly to its normal position, during which travel the ends of the legs of the yoke 40 may slide along over the plates 42 to their forward ends.

The manner in which the supply of ink is had in the ink well 19 now remains to be described, and reference is now made to Fig. 6 as best showing the details. A boss 45 depends from the top 15 ahead of the slot 16 and has a central passage therethrough with a bevelled countersunk upper end to act as a seat to support the ink well 19 thereon. A retaining ring 46 pressed in from above holds the ink well in position. Screwthreadedly engaging within the boss 45 from the under side is the pump cylinder 47, and the ink well 19 depends from its upper flared end by a restricted cylindrical section Within the cylinder 47, such that clearance is left between the ink well 19 and the cylinder Wall. The depth of the ink well 19 may be varied to hold that amount of ink desired to be dispensed for the coin.

The lower end of the cylinder 47 is open and contains a piston 48 carried on a crossbar 49 which projects through the slots 50 around the upperend of the vessel.

in the cylinder wall to be connected with the piston rods 51.

An ink supply vessel 52 surrounds the cylinder 47 (Fig. 2) and is here shown as being supported thereon by means of the catches 53 engaging within the ring 54 Intake passages 55 are provided through the cylinder walls on a line just above the piston 48, when the piston is in the extreme lower position, as here shown (Fig. 6), this position being the normal inoperative position. lVithin the cylinder 47, at a point beyond the required travel of the piston, is a closure 56 with a central passage 59 therethrough discharging into the reservoir chamber 57 above, into which chamber 57 the ink well 19 depends. A ball check 58 normally.

closes the passage 59 against discharge backwardly from the chamber 57 to above the piston.

The operation is such that upon upper travel oi the piston rods 51, the piston 48 closes the passages 55 and forces the ink having previously flowed therethrough from the ink vessel 52, through the passage 59 to the chamber 57. Under usual working conditions. this chamber 57 is filled with ink to the level of the intake holes 60 provided in the ink well, these holes 60 being the outlet for the discharge from the chamber 57, and the chamber 57 being filled to this level, further operation oi. the piston 48 will raise the ink in the chamber 57 such that it will flow through these holes 60 into the ink well 19. i

The travel of the piston 48 is normally regulated such that each upward stroke will place enough additional ink into the chamber 57 that will just fill theink well 19 with sufiicient ink for the filling of a single fountain pen, but it may happen that all of the ink .was not used in a prior filling,

in which event, the same fixed quantity of.

ink coming into the ink well 19 might cause it to overflow. To avoid such a happening, and to prevent too much ink being oifered for the single coin deposited, a number of holes 61 are provided through the ink well 19, above the holes (30 such that. ink rising in the ink well 19 to these holes 61 may discharge therethrough into passages 62 through the boss 45 outside of the cylinder 47, whereupon the excess ink so flowing may drop or pass down the outer wall of the cylinder 47 back to the ink vessel 52. By

.this construction, the ink may never rise above the holes 61.

Each piston rod 51 is engaged by its upper end to a rocker arm 63 which is fulcrumed on the support 64 therebetween (Figs. 2 and 5), and each rocker arm is in turn engaged by a link 65. These links 65 pass one on each side of the crosshead 17 and are movably attached to the c'rosshead til) 1.7 by means of the screws 66 passing through slots 67 in the links 65.. Springs 68 engage the rocker arms 63 at the pivotal connections with the links 65 and engage by the other ends in the cars 69 such that these springs 68 normally tend to return and hold the rocker arms 63, and the engaged links ('35 and piston rods 51: to the normal inoperative positions.

hen the crosshead 17' travels backwardly the screws 66 come to the ends of the slots 67 and thus carry the links 65 backwardly so as to aise the piston l8 to effect the flow of ink into the ink well 19, and as the springs 68 will carry the links 65 forwardly with. forward travel of the crosshead 17, a continuous pumping action of the ink into the ink well 19 would be had by rocking the lever 27 forwardly and backwardly.

To prevent such pumping action after the initial raising of the piston a8. a catch 7 Dis extended from one link 65, here shown on the left hand link (Fig. 3) to engage on the post- 71 when the backward travel of the crosshead 17 has been carried to the point where the ink well 19 is just filled to the desired level, or, in short, at the end of the backward travel of the crosshead 17 Now as the crosshead 17 may be moved backward and forward, there is no accompanying travel of the links 65 Since the catch holds the one link 65 against the spring 68 thereby preventing the return of the piston -l8 to its lower position, and the screws 66 merely slide within the slots 67.

The catch 70 is released by being contacted by the arm 72 carried on the back end of the crosshead 17. This arm has a finger 78 extending forwardly that contacts the catch 70 on its inclined face and is so adjusted that the catch 70 is pressed away from engagement with the post 71 at the time the trigger 28 is released from the yoke 40, with the result that when the catch 7 O is released to permit pumping action, the trigger 28 is also released and no pumping can occur until the next travel of the crosshead 17 as regulated by the deposit of the coin.

Attention is now directed to the ink supply vessel 52. This vessel 52 is so formed that it may be quickly and easily slippedv up around the cylinder 47 to be engaged by the spring catches 53, and as quickly and readily removed when empty. In practice, the ink is furnished in these vessels 52 such that it may be applied directly to the cylinder l7 and does not need to be poured from one vessel to another. The lower portion of the vessel 52 is formed with a sump such that by the time the ink level in the vessel 52 drops to the line of holes 55, there is very little ink remaining in the vessel 52.

Numerous modifications may be had in the structure as shown without departing from the spirit of the invention, and we therefore do not desire to be limited to this precise form.

lVhat we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an ink vending device, a housing, a reciprocating crosshead, means for actuating the crosshead, an ink well carried by the housing, a plate cooperating with said crosshead normally closing said ink well, an ink supply vessel, and means operating in conjunction with said crosshead for transferringink to said ink well from said ink vessel.

2. In an ink vending device, a housing, a reciprocating crosshead, means for actuating the crosshead, an ink wellin the housing, an ink well closure plate cooperating with said crosshead, and means operating in conjunction with said crosshead for placing ink in said ink well.

:3. in an ink vending device, a housing, a reciprocating crosshead, means for actuating the crosshead, an ink well in the housing, an ink well closure plate cooperating with said crosshead, and an ink supply motor actuated by said crosshead for supplying said ink well with ink.

4. In an ink vending device, a housing, a reciprocating crosshead, means for actuating the crosshead, an ink well in the housing, an ink well closure plate cooperating with said crosshead, and an ink supply motor actuated by said crosshead for supplying said ink well with ink, and means for arresting said motor following a predetermined ink discharge irrespective of further crosshead reciprocation.

In an ink vending device, a housing, a reciprocating crosshead, means for actuating the crosshead, an ink well in the housing, an ink well closure plate cooperating with said crosshead, and an ink supply motor actuated by said crosshead for supplying said ink well with ink, and means for arresting said motor following a predetermined ink dis charge irrespective of further crosshead reciprocation, and return means to release said arresting means.

6. In an ink vending device, a housing, a reciprocating crosshead, crosshead actuating means, an ink well in the housing, an ink well closure plate cooperating with said crosshead, spring means normally retaining said crosshead at one end of its travel whereby said closure plate covers said ink well, an ink well supply motor, and a link extending from said crosshead to operate said motor.

7. In an ink vending device, a housing, a reciprocating crosshead, crosshead actuati n g means, an ink well in the housing, an ink well closure plate cooperating with said crosshead, spring means normally retaining said crosshead at one end of its travel whereby said closure plate covers said ink well,

an ink well supply motor, and a link extending from said crosshead to operate said motor, said link being adapted to operate said motor in one direction only, and spring means to operate the motor in the opposite direction.

8. In an ink vending device, a housing, a reciprocating crosshead, crosshead actuating means, an ink well in the housing, an ink well closure plate cooperating with said crosshead, spring means normally retaining said crosshead at one end of its travel whereby said closure plat-e covers said ink well, an ink well supply motor, and a link extending from said crosshead to operate said motor, said link being adapted to operate said motor in one direction only, and spring means to operate the motor in the opposite direction, and locking means cooperating between said link and said housing whereby said link is held in an inoperative position after a predetermined operation of the motor.

9. In an ink vending device, a housing, a reciprocating crosshead, crosshead actuating means, an ink well in the housing, an ink well closure plate cooperating with said crosshead, spring means normally retaining said crosshead at one end of its travel whereby said closure plate covers said ink well, an ink well supply motor, and a link extending from said crosshead to operate said motor, said link being adapted to operate said motor in one direction only, and spring means to operate the motor in the opposite direction, and locking means cooperating between said link and said housing whereby said link is held in an inoperative position after a predetermined operation of the motor, and

a linger actuated by said crosshead to release said locking means upon the crosshead reaching a predetermined point.

10. In an ink vending device, a housing, a reciprocating crosshead, crosshead actuating means, an ink well in the housing, an ink well supply motor, a link extending from said crosshead to operate said motor, said link being adapted to operate said motor in one direction only, spring means to operate the motor in the reverse direction, and looking means to hold said motor in an inoperative position following a predetermined operation of the motor. I

11. In an ink vending device, a housing, a reciprocating crosshead, crosshead actuating means, an ink well in the housing, an ink Well supply motor, a link extending from said crosshead to operate said motor, said link being adapted to operate said motor in one direction only, spring means to operate the motor in the reverse direction, and locking means to hold said motor in an inopeia tive position following a predetermined operation of the motor, and release means for disengaging said locking means, said release means being operative upon a predetermined crosshead travel.

12. In an ink vending device, a housing, an ink well in the housing, means for supplying ink to said ink well, a discharge conduit from said ink supplying means, said ink well intercepting said discharge conduit, and level control means whereby said ink well may not be filled above an indicated level, a cover normally closing said ink well, means for actuating said ink supplying means, said actuating means being adapted to open said cover and to limit the ink flow to a single filling of the ink well during such opened position of the cover.

13. In an ink vending device, a housing, a reciprocating crosshead, crosshead actuating means, an ink cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, an ink reservoir receiving the ink discharge from the cylinder, an ink well having an intake passage from said reservoir, means for preventing the overflow of said ink well, a link interconnecting by one end with said piston and having a longitudinal slot in the opposite end, a pin fixed to said crosshead and sliding in said slot, spring means for normally returning the piston to its intake position, a post on the housing, a catch on the link, whereby said catch engages said post after a travel of the link such that the piston travel has caused a predetermined displacement of ink from the reservoir, and a finger actuated by said crosshead to disengage said catch.

14. In an ink vending device, a housing,a reciprocating crosshead, crosshead actuating means, an ink well in the housing, means controlled by said crosshead for supplying ink to said ink well, and an ink supply vessel, said ink supply vessel being detachably engaged with said ink supplying means and having a sump therein.

15. In an inkvending device, an ink supply motor, an ink vessel adapted to receive a portion of said motor within, and yielding means to detachably secure said Vessel about said motor.

In testimony whereof we aiiix our'signa tures.

OTIS AMOS. CLAUDE A. DEAL.

Ill: 

